Sepsis, also known as septicaemia or blood poisoning, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the immune system reacts to an infection in an extreme way, causing damage to the tissues and organs. It can affect anyone and may stem from an infection in one part of the body, such as the skin or lungs, or from an invasive medical procedure such as an injection.
In 2016, almost 15,000 people were diagnosed with sepsis in Ireland and 3,000 died as a result of this. According to statistics in the Irish Journal, 60% of all deaths in hospitals are related to a sepsis infection, and some of these cases can be attributed to medical negligence. If sepsis occurs as a result of an error made by a medical professional, a claim for medical negligence may be made.
Signs of Sepsis
It is very easy for the early signs of sepsis to be confused with the flu, as these include feeling generally unwell, having a high or unusually low temperature, shivering and breathing rapidly. However, this can quickly progress and become extremely dangerous, so it is important to rule out infection if these symptoms are present.
As sepsis progresses, medical professionals will be alert to symptoms such as confusion, dizziness and losing control of the bowels. Sepsis awareness campaigns focus on alerting people to the six signs that may be indicative of sepsis developing. These are:
- Slurred speech, confusion or disorientation.
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain.
- Less urine production than usual, for example, passing no urine in a day.
- Diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting.
- Mottled or discoloured skin, including if the skin is pale, cold and clammy.
The symptoms of sepsis in young children also include lethargy, floppiness and convulsions. A stiff neck can also be an important symptom to look out for at any age.
If you notice any of the above, it is very important to seek help from a medical professional immediately. If you are concerned that you are not being taken seriously, you should explain that you are worried about the possibility of sepsis and ask for a second opinion. If you have recently had an injury or vaccination, it is very important to make your doctor aware of this as a potential cause of infection in your body.
How Sepsis Is Treated
To be diagnosed with sepsis, a patient must have a raised temperature, raised heart rate and an increased rate of breathing. Blood tests will be carried out, along with other medical assessments such as respiratory secretion testing and urine or stool samples, and these will be analysed for signs of infection.
The treatment for sepsis depends upon the severity of the infection when it is diagnosed. If detected in the early stages of infection, most people can be treated at home using antibiotics and will make a full recovery. For more advanced or severe infections, however, hospital admission will be necessary. Sepsis can very quickly damage the organs and lead to very severe complications and even death, so it is taken very seriously by medical professionals when it is diagnosed.
Current hospital treatment for sepsis involves following a treatment protocol as soon as possible. If this is carried out within the first hour of diagnosis, this protocol is believed to double a patient’s chance of survival. This involves:
- Giving oxygen
- Carrying out full blood tests for infection
- Beginning to administer antibiotics
- Giving fluids via an IV infusion
- Checking the lactic acid in the blood and the haemoglobin levels
- Observing urine output every hour.
Where Medical Negligence Can Occur
Sepsis is a highly dangerous infection, but the initial symptoms may be mild. If the early stages of sepsis are missed, it can quickly become critical, so it is crucial that medical professionals are alert to the risks and respond quickly to the signs. If an opportunity to diagnose sepsis is missed, and outcomes are worse than if it was caught early, there may be a case for a medical negligence claim to be made.
As medical professionals in Ireland, doctors and nurses are bound by high standards of practice, regulated by the laws in place to protect patients. If a medical professional makes a mistake in diagnosing or treating a patient and this leads to poor outcomes, it is possible to make a claim for compensation. To do so, it is necessary to prove that another medical professional would not have made this error and that the patient would have had better outcomes under alternative care.
To make a claim for medical negligence, it is important to work with an experienced medical negligence solicitor who can help you with your case. You will need to obtain copies of your medical records and follow the correct procedure for compensation claims, and your medical negligence solicitor can help you with this.
Find Experienced Medical Negligence Solicitors in Ireland
If you or a loved one have experienced medical negligence, with regard to sepsis or any other medical matter, our experienced medical negligence solicitors will be happy to help you.
Contact S.T. O’Sullivan & Co Solicitors in Ennis to discuss your situation and find out whether you could make a medical negligence compensation claim. Simply call into our office in Ennis, Co.Clare, contact us online, or call us today on +353 (065) 6820620. We guarantee to call you back within one business day.
